"No, thanks," she told him. "I'm a bartender, remember? I make my own drinks."
While Margot cowered at her feet, Allie made a Negroni for herself and took a sip as she turned around to face Carter’s family.
"Were you in the military?" Carter’s uncle asked finally.
"No," she said.
"Oh. Where did you learn how to do that?"
She shrugged. "They weren't actually fighting. No one had a knife or a gun."
"I see," said Walter. He motioned to the drink in her hand. "Can you make me one of those?"
"Of course," she replied and turned her attention back to the drink cart.
Walter took a sip of the Negroni she handed him. "Perfect. I think I have a new favorite person!"
Jack looked as if he were about to punch his brother.
"Dinner is ready," said Stefan, opening the doors to the dining room.
As they sat down to eat, Allie put all illusions out of her mind of Carter suddenly falling madly in love with her and inviting her to come live in this beautiful house and solve all of her financial problems. Aside from Walter, who it seemed could be bribed with drinks, this was probably the fastest she had ever alienated a group of people.
Stefan served dinner. Allie almost stood up to help him, but Carter dug his fingers into her thigh. She winced. That was going to bruise.
Dinner was an endive-and-pear Roquefort salad paired with a savory seafood gratin with a side of grilled asparagus. It was one of the tastiest meals Allie had ever eaten. She didn't even try to eat elegantly and bent over the dish to shovel the piping hot food into her mouth.
Carter poked her repeatedly in the abdomen. She obligingly let out a burp. He snickered, and his mother looked appalled. She could tell they were waiting for her to say, "Excuse me." She took a swig of wine instead.
After everyone else finished eating, Stefan began to clear away the table, and Allie automatically jumped up and started bussing the table. Carter laughed.
"Oh, there’s no need to do that," Nancy told her.
"It’s fine," Allie said stubbornly and helped Stefan clear the table while the Holbrooks looked on in shock and bemusement.
When the table was clear, Allie helped Stefan serve dessert. It was chocolate crème brûlée. The burnt-sugar crust cracked delightfully under her spoon, and the chocolate crème melted on her tongue.
"So good," she mumbled. Licking her spoon, she said, "This was the best meal I've ever eaten."
Nancy looked taken aback, but she still smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it."
Jack glared angrily at her.
"Nancy is a bit of a chef. She prepared all of the dishes. Of course, she would never brag about it, so I'm doing it for her," Kate said cheerfully.
"It's amazing," Allie repeated and stood up to start clearing the dishes.
Jack reached for the wine bottle to refill his glass, but Allie took it away from him.
"You’ve had enough," she said to him.
Carter practically fell out of his chair laughing. Walter, who was sitting next to him, cackled and slapped his thigh.
"Where did you find her?" he asked Carter.
"A bar!"
8
